Please click on any of the following frequently asked questions to see a detailed answer. E-mail us with any questions not answered below:

• Can my company rent space at the Software Engineering Center? Yes!
• Why is San Diego DEFCOMM so important?
• What are the goals of San Diego DEFCOMM?
• How can San Diego DEFCOMM accomplish its goals?
• What are some of the specific benefits to the Department of Defense provided by San Diego DEFCOMM?
• What are some of the specific benefits to members of the San Diego DEFCOMM?
• What public support for San Diego DEFCOMM exists?
• Is there an example of the success of San Diego DEFCOMM?
• Why should my COMPUTER/DEFENSE/TECHNOLOGY company join?
• Why should my BANK join?
• Why should my POLITICAL ORGANIZATION join?
• Why should my PROPERTY MANAGEMENT/CONSTRUCTION COMPANY join?

Can my company rent space at the Software Engineering Center?

Yes.

Why is San Diego DEFCOMM so important?

We all can appreciate the importance of the defense industry to the overall economic well being of San Diego from both a historical and current perspective. Clearly, the end of the "Cold War" had its impact on San Diego's defense and defense-related industries. Southern California's defense industry, in particular, has gone through significant changes including a major downsizing in the early 90's as tens of thousands of displaced aerospace and other defense industry workers were compelled to start new careers often in rather diverse industries. The impact of defense downsizing in San Diego was not limited to the layoff of defense workers. Among the hardest hit in our business community were the San Diego small business suppliers and contractors as the decade-long decline in defense spending reduced procurements from $4.5 billion in 1993 to $2.7 billion in 1997. Although defense spending by Congress has increased in recent years, we continue to experience a fundamental restructuring within the defense industry in San Diego. Many of the large mergers and acquisitions have already taken place, but companies are still spinning off divisions, consolidating operations and reducing headcount. Moreover, the number of defense contracts continues to decline as the Department of Defense and other government agencies issue larger, consolidated Requests for Proposals, more Indefinite Delivery Order type contracts, contracts of longer duration with more option years. The net result is fewer opportunities for small, independent defense contractors to compete successfully.

To meet the dynamic challenges in the highly competitive, high-technology arena, San Diego DEFCOMM was formed and is dedicated to promote growth within the industry by facilitating innovative alliances that leverage the ingenuity, resourcefulness, creativity and entrepreneurial spirit present in the San Diego Defense and Space Technology Industry Cluster. The challenge is formidable; but with continuing strong support from our government and civic leaders, steadfast commitment of San Diego industry, and this Consortium, we will ensure that our space and defense industry continues to compete successfully on a national and global level and remains a major contributor to the overall economic health and well being of our community. In short, San Diego's only way to remain competitive in this area is to organize and utilize all of its resources.

What are the goals of San Diego DEFCOMM?

San Diego DEFCOMM provides an organization to:

• Help us remain competitive with other regions.
• Help stimulate business and job creation at all skill levels.
• Provide an added benefit to business location and retention in San Diego.
• Recognize the San Diego Defense Industry and its importance to the local economy.
• Promote small business access.
• Provide a strategic partner for industrial networking and alliance building.

How can San Diego DEFCOMM accomplish its goals?

San Diego DEFCOMM first provides a virtual organization which will provide an umbrella under which the member companies can come together to market and bid new engineering production projects. This virtual organization, the Engineering Production Board will be key to small companies by providing ability to team on jobs that would normally be out of reach. Secondly San Diego DEFCOMM will provide for community involvement and outreach through member advocacy. The Member Services Board will provide a voice for the San Diego region in the area defense and space technology through legislative and research related activities.

What are some of the specific benefits to the Department of Defense provided by San Diego DEFCOMM?

The continued growth of inter-governmental and trans-government relationships will:

• Reduce the time-to-completion of critical defense systems.
• Leverage regional key resources (workers, facilities and investment dollars) to reduce total cost of ownership.
• Increase small business access to technologies, expertise, markets and investment, which will support innovation to insure the competitiveness of our military forces.

What are some of the specific benefits to members of San Diego DEFCOMM?

• New tools for alliance building and a reduction of the costs associated with alliance building.
• A focal point for government legislative initiatives related to defense and space.
• Expanded opportunities to initiate and participate in major collaborative R&D projects, especially for small business.
• Emphasis on the capture and execution of major engineering projects not previously possible for companies in the San Diego Region.

What public support for San Diego DEFCOMM exists?

• County of San Diego Board of Supervisors
• Office of Congressman Duncan Hunter
• Office of Congressman Randy "Duke" Cunningham
• City Council of San Diego
• State of California
• California Trade & Commerce Agency
• San Diego Economic Development Corporation
• East County Economic Development Council
• San Diego Regional Technology Alliance
• San Diego World Trade Center
• California Space Technology Alliance
• San Diego State University
• ...and many more!

Is there an example of the success of San Diego DEFCOMM?

San Diego DEFCOMM has been chosen by SPAWAR Systems Center San Diego and its prime contractor Science Applications International Corporation to provide a software engineering center. The center provides a leading edge physical and management environment for the development of critical satellite planning and management software for department of defense satellites. The Software Engineering Center is the first and largest collaborative engineering project of its type in San Diego County. It establishes the basis for the continued development and long-term growth and competitiveness of participating companies and government agencies involved.

The Software Engineering Center represents the next logical step in the development of Department of Defense engineering capabilities. Transitioning of selected engineering projects to collaborative industrial environments lowers the overall procurement costs and increases incentives for private investment. Also San Diego DEFCOMM and its Software Engineering Center provide small companies the means to exploit collaboratively developed technologies for the commercial market.

The site chosen for the Software Engineering Center is the Gillespie Field Business Park, due to its low total cost of ownership and expansion potential. Also the Software Engineering Center exerts a major, positive impact on an economically depressed region of San Diego County with an annual payroll of $6.5M representing 160 jobs in the high technology fields of software development and networks.

Why should my COMPUTER/DEFENSE/TECHNOLOGY company join?

The primary business objective of the Consortium and its membership is to capture new business opportunities for San Diego based defense and space industry companies. It is invisioned that our members will form highly competitive partnerships to go after and win government contracts, in particular DOD contracts involving the development, maintenance and operation of advanced satellite communications systems and networks. Only San Diego DEFCOMM members will be participants in the integrated project team. In short, as a member of San Diego DEFCOMM you could be a possible project team leader or member in future projects.

Why should my BANK join?

As the Consortium grows and captures new business opportunities, it is anticipated that many of our smaller member companies may need the financial support of key banks and other financial institutions doing business in San Diego. As you well know, 90% of the businesses in San Diego are rated as "small businesses." As such, they are dependent on financial, business, and related support from organizations such as yours. As a member of San Diego DEFCOMM, your firm would be the preferred choice in possible new small business loans, venture capital opportunities for new business development, etc.

Why should my POLITICAL ORGANIZATION join?

The future economic viability of the San Diego region largely depends on the success of its small businesses. The Defense and Space industry cluster is most susceptible to impacts resulting from changes in government policy, programs, and regulations. We seek to have our government representatives, local, state, and federal, work with us to ensure the long-term growth and success of this vital industry to our national economy and security. Moreover, as a member you can stay "tuned in" to some of the economic business opportunities that are unfolding in your District, neighboring District, etc and the potential impact it may have on your constituents.

Why should my PROPERTY MANAGEMENT/CONSTRUCTION COMPANY join?

As San Diego DEFCOMM expands its business, there will be opportunities for many of its defense and space industry members to expand as well. This generally means more business to many of the key suppliers and infrastructure support industries such as property managers, construction companies, etc. New business will benefit all of us. Moreover, as we go after some of the larger defense contract opportunities, there may be opportunities for participation in an omnibus contract where additional facility space and/or capability is a requirement. As a San Diego DEFCOMM member, you would be the preferred partner in such an initiative.